Parent Update – April 25, 2014

The students from the Pre Engineering classes competed in the Ohio SkillsUSA championship recently in Columbus.

Joselyn Rabbitt and Stephanie Schroth placed first in Robotics and Automation Technology. Lucas Schilling and Matt Seman took top honors in Mobile Robotics. Mike Zeber was part of the Polaris team that placed first in Career Pathways Showcase Manufacturing.

Jake Olszewski, Matt Bender and Thomas Cobb took third in Engineering Technology.

All first-place competitors will go to Kansas City in June. This was the most students in Polaris history to compete at the national level in one year.

Also competing in the Automated Manufacturing competition were Scott Dehart, Ryan Bratsch and Matt Metzger.

Congratulations to these fine students. Best of luck at the national competition. To view a photo gallery, click HERE.

OFMS MUSICIANS PERFORM AT SOLO/ENSEMBLE CONTEST

OFMS had more than 140 individual entries in 72 events for the Ohio Music Association Solo and Ensemble Contest April 12 at Cuyahoga Community Collge.

Student preparation for the competition included before school, after school, during lunch, weekends and evening practices. To view the names of participating students and their ratings, click here. Congratulations to all these wonderful musicians.

REMINDER: OFMS SPRING PLAY PERFORMANCES TONIGHT & TOMORROW

The Bulldog Theatre Company will perform its spring play, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being a Zombie.” Remaining performances are Friday, April 25th and Saturday, April 26th – shows begin at 7:00 p.m.

Over the course of an evening, the 56 undead actors and actresses will explore and contemplate life lessons through a unique perspective that only a zombie could offer. Life lessons, such as “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” “Everyone deserves a second chance,” and “there is no normal,” are some of those lessons.

Tickets cost $5 for adults; $3, students and free to senior citizens and children under 5. We hope to see you there.

DODGE BALL COMPETITION TONIGHT – FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH

Got some good moves? Sign up for the Post Prom’s third annual Dodge Ball game Friday, April 25th from 6-9 p.m. in the high school gym. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to sign up during lunch in the cafeteria beginning April 22nd. The cost is $25 per team that includes five students.

Admission to watch is $3. There will be prizes for the best outfits and winning team. Don’t miss out on the fun. All proceeds benefit the Post Prom.

Helping Hands will host the second “Movie and Game Night” on Friday April 25, 2014 from 6-8:30 p.m. @ OFHS. This event is set up to be a “sensory friendly” experience. The sound is controlled and the lights will be dim (not off). We are playing Pixar short films so students can feel comfortable changing scenery from auditorium to cafeteria as needed.

Games will be set up and played in the cafeteria. Feel free to bring your favorite game to share! We will provide a snack of popcorn, cookies, and water.

Please send RSVP to Mariel Krakowiak, mkrakowiak@ofcs.net, by Wednesday April 23 and inform us of the number of adults and students in your group.

Saturday, April 26th will mark the 8th nationwide drug take-back day sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency at locations across the country participating in Operation Medicine Cabinet. The Olmsted Falls Police Department has again partnered with the DEA and PTA to host this event in our community. Between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm on April 26th please drop off potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs at the Olmsted Falls Police Department.

All items collected will be turned over to the DEA for destruction at a licensed disposal facility. Please pass this information along to your family, neighbors, friends and colleagues. Through this collection event, we keep these medications out of the hands of curious youth and we keep these medications out of our drinking water supply. Check out the DEA’s website and spread the word about collection points in our area. For additional information: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

**TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OFHS RENOVATIONS NOW! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Visit the Pride In Olmsted Schools website to view video featuring a virtual tour of proposed renovations to Olmsted Falls High School:

The Pride website also feature additional video clips produced by students! Enjoy!

OFHS NEEDS YOU! LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE IMPORTANT MAY 6TH ELECTION

PRIDE COMMITTEE SEEKING ENDORSEMENTS – Many thanks to the dedicated volunteers working on behalf of the Pride In Olmsted Committee in support of Issue #4. The endorsement list keeps growing and the committee continues to seek individuals, families, and local community partners to indicate their support of this bond issue for OFHS. The campaign intends to use the names of steadfast supporters to demonstrate bulldog pride and growing support of this critical ballot issue.

To participate, send an email to prideinolmstedschools@gmail.com. Please include your name and, if you wish, why you support the high school improvements. Additionally, the committee is seeking photos of families who would like to demonstrate their support. Please use your imagination and be creative! If you’d like to include a “YES for schools” sign in your photo, please let the committee know. You are encouraged to create your own poster as well! Submit your photos or questions to prideinolmstedschools@gmail.com.

YARD SIGNS– The Pride Committee is requesting that any parents who may still have a “Yes on #86” yard sign from the fall campaign stored in their garage to please return it to be updated and recycling for the current information campaign. Signs will be updated with “Issue #4” and redistributed along main roads in the community. Signs can be dropped off next to the garage behind the Board of Education office (under the overhang, next the picnic table, please).

MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS – Vote by Mail! Request your Vote By Mail absentee ballot by clicking HERE. Those people who request absentee ballots to vote by mail will receive ballots soon. Please be sure to complete and return your absentee ballot as soon as you receive it. EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – To learn more about Issue #4, and view the growing list of endorsements, please visit www.prideinolmstedschools.com.

OFMS PARENT ORIENTATION FOR 5th GRADERS IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 7TH

All parents of 5th graders are invited to attend an orientation meeting Wedesday, May 7th, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the OFMS cafetorium. The program is designed primarily for parents as students will have their orientation in mid August of 2014.

The agenda includes:

– 6 Grade Teaching Teams

– Typical 6th Grade Schedule

– Tour of Building

– Question & Answer Session in Cafetorium

While you will not be able to make a specific team request, you may send a note or an email to Mr. Kurz, mkurz@ofcs.net, describing your child in terms of learning style preferences and personality traits so that we may be able to match him/her up with the best possible fit in terms of our 6th grade teaching teams. Please send your note or email to Mr. Kurz by Friday, May 9, or we will not be able to consider your request. Please understand our need to finalize our class lists in a timely manner.

Please feel free to contact Mr. Kurz, 440-427-6201 or mkurz@ofcs.net, in the event you have any questions regarding the middle school. Thank you.

THREE OFHS STUDENTS TO RECEIVE EAGLE SCOUT RANKING THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH

Olmsted Falls Boy Scout Troop 201 members Mike Zeber, an OFHS senior; Garrett Yoder, also a senior, and Matt Fox, a sophomore, will have their Eagle Scout Court of Honor at 2 p.m. April 27th at St. Mary of the Falls Church. Nationally, only 3 percent of scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

Our Carnival for a Cure on April 11th was a huge success! We had so many families that came out to support Relay for Life and the Falls-Lenox for Life team. Every year, through this fundraiser, we raise huge sums of money to create a world with more birthdays! This year we were able to raise $4,007 to help families and individuals who have been affected (or will be affected) by cancer. Wow! A special thank you goes out to all the families and students who came out to support this event, PTA members who contributed time, cupcakes and energy to make it extra special for the kids, high school students who donated their time on the mini-relay, Kiwanis members who graciously served up food, and teachers and staff , friends and family, who stayed all day and night to bring our carnival to life. As you can see, it was a true community event, and it was the Olmsted Falls Bulldog Community who made it truly special. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

the OFHS Academic Team’s April 26th fundraiser is at Razzles/Rockers Café. Proceeds from the 8-10 p.m. event will help defray the cost of sending the school’s National Qualifying team to Chicago in May. Tickets are $20 and include pizza, wings, beverages, music and entertainment. Take a chance on gift baskets, side boards filled with cash prizes and a door prize entry into a $100 drawing. Kids 6 and under are free to this family event. For tickets, call Laraine, 440-235-3006.

Remember to watch the team on Academic Challenge May 10th on WEWS TV Channel 5. To view the event’s flyer, click HERE.

APRIL 30 DEADLINE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA CALENDAR RAFFLE IS NEARING

Time is running out to buy an entry in the annual Calendar Raffle. For $5, you are entered for a chance to win 31 days of fabulous prizes. A different winner is pulled each day and a list of winners will be posted on the blog. You may enter as many times as you like, share the raffle with family, friends and co-workers.

Entry forms and cash or a check (made out to MS PTA) may be dropped off at any of the school main offices. Why not take a chance! The contest includes many gift cards to area stores, Monsters tickets and other great prizes. View a copy of the calendar by clicking here.

Entry form must be returned with money to your school office by April 30thin an envelope marked OFMS PTA Calendar Raffle to be eligible. Checks should be made payable to OFMS PTA. Thanks for your support

CHICK FIL A DINING WILL HELP OLMSTED FALLS RELAY FOR LIFE

Chick-fil-A will donate 20 percent of your check when you place an order at the North Olmsted location from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 15. The funds will go to the Olmsted Falls Relay for Life event.

All dine in, carry out, drive through and catering orders will be honored. Be sure to mention OF Relay for Life when ordering.

SPRING SPORTSWEAR SALE – SATURDAY, MAY 3rd

The Olmsted Falls Athletic Booster Club will hold its 2nd Annual Spring Sportswear sale Saturday, May 3rd from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale is at the sportswear booth by the concession stand at the football field.

Lots of spring and summer apparel to choose from including shorts, tank tops, visors and more. The sale is also offering 10 percent off all items in stock. It’s free to get in. We look forwarding to seeing you there.

SHOOTING/BALL HANDLING CLINIC FOR GRADES 3-6 – MAY 3RD

Learn to become a better shooter and ball handler at the OFHS Boys Basketball One Day Shooting/Ball Handling Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon May 3 in the school’s gym. The team’s coaches and players will use instruction and drills that will teach shooting form, shooting and ball handling and fun competitions to improve.

The cost is $15. There is no deadline. Walk-ins are welcome, but a sign-up and emergency contact form is available by clicking HERE.

ANNUAL ART SHOW SEEKING ENTRIES FROM THE COMMUNITY – DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM

Annual OFHS May Art Show is Friday May 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the HS main gymnasium. The show is free and open to the public during those hours. Again we are looking for work from OFHS alumni, O.F. faculty & staff, and the O.F. community. We can accept flat work as well as 3-D work. All work must be ready to be presented when it is dropped off (matted or framed). Please fill out the entry information page, found by clicking here, if you would like your work displayed in the show. Forms need to be back to Mariel Krakowiak at OFHS by Friday May 9. Please contact Mariel with any questions: mkrakowiak@ofcs.net.

OECPTA SAFETY TOWN 2014 REGISTRATION REMAINS OPEN – DEADLINE IS MAY 10th

Safety Town is a child accident prevention program for incoming kindergarteners. It is a program that introduces safety awareness and preventative procedures to the children. Children practice real life situations before being confronted with situations on their own. Safety Town is the foundation of safety education.

The Olmsted Early Childhood PTA organizes the program. Registration is now open. Payment reserves your child’s spot and must be received by May 10, 2014. The dates for this year’s Safety Town sessions are as follows: Session I: June 9-13, 2014 (AM & PM sessions) Session II: June 16-20, 2014 (AM & PM sessions) Session III: June 23-27, 2014 (AM & PM sessions) Please click HERE to download the 2014 Safety Town information flyer. Please click HERE to download the 2014 Safety Town Registration packet.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR SAFETY TOWN

The Olmsted Early Childhood PTA needs current 7th– 12th grade student Volunteers to help with Safety Town. Safety Town is located behind Falls-Lenox school and takes place in June. Safety Town is to teach children entering Kindergarten about neighborhood and vehicle safety. If you are interested – we need your help! This is a great way to build your resume for those college applications and gain service hours. For further details, forms can be picked up in the high school or middle school main offices and need to be returned by May 9th, 2014. Forms can also be downloaded by clicking HERE. Completed forms can be submitted to Cara at cpetkosh@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY

CARNIVAL NIGHT IS THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH

Come one, come all students in grades 1-6 to Olmsted Community Center’s Carnival Night at its Saturday Activity Night program.

This Saturday, April 26th, enjoy plinko, ring toss, face painting, games and prizes from 7-10 p.m. at the center, 8170 Mapleway Drive.

OLMSTED FALLS PIRANHAS SWIM TEAM HAS OPEN REGISTRATION – THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 27th

Falls Pointe Development welcomes swimmers to its summer program. Registration for the Piranhas swim team is open to any resident of Olmsted Falls or Township. Registration will take place from 2-4 p.m. April 27th at the Falls Pointe development clubhouse located on Falls Pointe Drive. For more details and contact information, please click HERE.

MAKE A RAIN BARREL OR BUY A COMPOST BIN – DEADLINE MAY 7th

Community members are invited to attend the rain barrel/composting seminar May 12 at the Olmsted Falls Early Childhood Center. Olmsted Township is hosting the seminar that the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District will head.

Attendees will learn to make a rain barrel they will keep and/or buy a compost bin. The rain barrel is $60; compost bin, $50. Rain barrels harvest rainwater for all garden needs and combat storm water pollution. A barrel, downspout diverter and all material will be included. Composting is a great way to keep organic materials out of landfills and an inexpensive way of adding nutrients to soil.

The 6:30-8:30 p.m. session has a May 7 registration deadline. To register, contact Jared Bartley, 216-524-6580, Ext. 14. To view a flyer of the event, click here.

WESTVIEW SWIM TEAM HOSTS MEET-THE-COACHES COOKOUT — LEARN ABOUT THE TEAM

Looking for a fun, recreational activity this summer? Join the Westview Swim Team and come to the annual Meet-the-Coaches Cookout on Sunday, May 18th from 5-6 p.m. @ the Westview pool, 26640 Redwood Drive. You can enjoy hot dogs, chips, drinks and dessert. Meet the swim team coaches and learn more about the team. Discover what the excitement is all about.

The swim team offers other events throughout the season, such as Donut Fridays, annual Swim-A-thon and end of the season Awards Banquet and pool party. The group emphasizes participation, sportsmanship, teamwork, spirit and self-discipline. Many of the swimmers compete in high school and even college. Registration is available by clicking HERE. For questions, please email theallenfamily3@netzero.com.

OLMSTED SPIRIT 5K RACE – SUNDAY, MAY 4TH

This year, the “Dara Hosta Olmsted Spirit 5K” was given back to the community by the Hosta family. They requested that the race return to its original name of the “Olmsted Spirit 5K,” but we know that the race will always live on in Dara’s spirit. It is set for Sunday, May 4th.

The new committee consists of three former Olmsted Falls graduates, one of them being Mr. Justin Zrenner, a teacher at the high school who went to OFHS with Dara. All proceeds from the race will still go towards scholarships for graduating OFHS seniors. One change this year is that the money raised from raffle ticket sales will benefit an Olmsted Falls family in need. The only other change is that registration is now completely online (www.spectralight.com/5k). Hope to see you Sunday May 4th!

OLMSTED FALLS GARDEN CLUB PERENNIAL PLANT SALE – SUNDAY, MAY 4TH

Don’t miss the annual Olmsted Falls Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale on Sunday, May 4th from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Jenkins Community Center.

A portion of proceeds from this sale benefit Falls-Lenox 3rd graders for the Minnesota Fast Seed program (formerly known as Veggie U).

LORAIN COUNTY CELEBRATES AVIATION DAYS OVER MEMORIAL WEEKEND

The Lorain County Regional Airport will feature a night air show, aircraft displays, airplane rides, aerobatics, drone demonstrations and sky divers at its Aviation Days May 24th and 25th. Admission is $10, with those under 17, free. There also is free parking. To see the event’s flyer, click here.

OLMSTED BICENTENNIAL BASH BEGINS WITH A JULY 4TH BANG

This year is a time to celebrate and have fun in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township with a 2014 Bicentennial celebration. Residents of the communities formed a grassroots Bicentennial Commission to plan and coordinate the year-long celebration.

Events include the July 4th Bicentennial Parade and Cornerstone Festival featuring fireworks and entertainment including tribute bands and local group performances, food vendors and a business showcase. A Murder/Mystery Dinner/Masquerade is set for October 25th entitled “Spirits of Olmsted” – Murder at the Costume Ball – Dressed to Kill.

We invite you to ‘LIKE’ Olmsted Bicentennial Celebration on facebook or go to its website by clicking HERE to learn more about the activities.

BW INVITES YOUTH TO ITS SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS

Baldwin Wallace University invites students in grades 4-9 to participate in one or more of its summer music programs. This is the 80th year BW has provided camps, institutions and other learning opportunities to the community. Application deadlines are May 1. The camps are String Camp, June 14-19; Piano Camp A, June 14-19; Piano Camp B, June 21-June 26; Band Camp, June 21-June 26 and Music Theatre Camp, June 21-26. Click on the highlighted camps for applications.

OPA OFFERS ACTING SUMMER CAMP

Olmsted Performing Arts has seven summer camps available for those as young as 3 and up to 17 years of age. The theater camps range in length and composition, with some starting June 1 and others ending Aug. 8. For more details or to register, click HERE.

DINE WITH ROYALTY @ OPA’S PRINCESS SHOW

Enjoy a 25-minute princess show followed by breakfast or dinner at Olmsted Performing Arts’ Dine with Royalty May 2-4 at the theater’s center, 6941 Columbia Road. Tickets are $25 and Royal Boutique preview, $17. Click HERE to register or for more details.

KIDSFIRST LEARNING CENTERS PROVIDE SUMMER FUN

KidsFirst Learning Centers offer a FunFirst Summer Camp scheduled from June 9 through August 15 for kids entering kindergarten through grade 5.

The 10-week program has various classes, sports and field trips. For more information, call 440-235-3070.